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Parenting & Farm Kids:  meaningful celebrations  |
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EmPaige
Farmgirl in Training
11 Posts
Emily
Texas
USA
11 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 04 2007 : 1:39:36 PM
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I know that perhaps this should go under holiday stuff but I thought that you mammas would have the insight that I am looking for. Easter is just around the corner and then in three weeks my son, Oliver is turning one. As a family we are trying to simplify and get out from under the "madness" that our society has created in so many arenas. I was just starting to think about what to put in my kids easter baskets when it hit me - why am doing easter baskets? So they can have more stuff or candy - exactly what i am working so hard to get OUT of the house? They are 1 and 2 and a half! They don't even know or care about this stuff, so why am I making it a part of their lives? Eva (my 2 and a half year old) did paint eggs yesterday and it was really sweet and fun, but it was an activity that we were sharing together. And while we were doing it I was telling her the story of Easter. Not the bunnies and eggs, but Jesus rising after 3 days. Of course she grasped very little of this, but she actually wanted to stop painting eggs, to go look at pictures in her kids Bible to see what the cross and the tomb looked like!
And with Oliver's birthday coming up I can feel the same tensions arising within me....this war between the things I think I am suppose to do and the desire to have a REAL celebration that is simply celebrating the purpose of the holiday. I am all for fun...I am not all for buying what society tells me I need to do to pull fun off. Does anyone understand what I'm talking about? Any insight or wisdom? |
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MulberryMama
Farmgirl in Training
37 Posts
Jill
Prospect Heights
IL
USA
37 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2007 : 2:28:09 PM
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I understand completely. I, too, have small children and am reluctant to fill a basket with junk they don't need, and stuff I will ultimately be picking up all over the house. Candy is like crack for these kids and definitely out. I think books are good, little kid sunglasses, bath toys, stuff they will use and enjoy and I don't mind them having.
A friend told me about her family's easter egg hunt, in which her kids still participate as teenagers and young adults. Some eggs are dyed easter eggs, others are plastic eggs (recycled every year) with homemade coupons for backrubs, "get out of jail free" cards, and other little trinkets found throughout the year.
For little ones, I supposed it could be adapted to include stickers, cute little pictures cut out of magazines and mounted on card stock, bible verses, hair "pretties" for the girls, packets of seeds you can plant together, little stuff that you may already have.
Finding the eggs and opening them for the surprise is really the fun part at their age, they don't care what the $ value of something is, just that there is something in the egg.
When I was little, my sister and I got new dresses at Easter and Christmas. Sometimes store-bought, mostly homesewn by my older sisters, and matching. And Church on Easter Sunday was a really big deal.
About first birthdays: While some parents we know will rent a hall or private room at a restaurant for the first birthday, my husband and I keep it small. Homemade cake on a special "birthday" plate (a colorful polka dotted plate). Our girls really liked balloons in their rooms (or any other decoration, artwork or banner) when they woke up in the morning (we sneak them in after they have gone to sleep).
My husband's family would allow the birthday girl or boy to pick their favorite food for dinner. If it was waffles, spaghetti, or pizza, so be it, but for that special day, they got to decide. Hard for a 1 year old, but I am sure you already know what he gets excited about and loves to eat.
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primjillie
True Blue Farmgirl
138 Posts
Jill
Antelope
CA
USA
138 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 08:07:09 AM
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I do holiday things, like Easter baskets, because I like to hand down the traditions I grew up with and enjoyed so much. I still look forward to all the holidays as an adult. We have always made a big deal about birthdays, not huge parties or anything, but still we always made a fuss about the birthday person to make them feel special. We did a special dinner, cake and ice cream, and presents. Some years they want a party, other years they didn't care.
I do some candy in the baskets, but I also do videos, books, toys, etc. to fill it up. I love Easter egg hunts for the little ones - it is so much fun to watch them run off to find the eggs and squeal when they find the eggs. We also do Christmas trees, presents, Santa, etc., but not over the top. I think it is possible to do a simple, festive holiday without going all out. I think some people are so afraid of the commercialism, they go too far the other way. I think it is possible to celebrate all the holidays and keep them special and simple. |
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garliclady
True Blue Farmgirl
274 Posts
Reidsville
NC
274 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 1:44:49 PM
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My kids are almost 3 and 5 and I have struggled with the same thing.Today a lady today ask my kids if they were excited about the Easter Bunny and my kids stared at her -they have no clue what the "easter Bunny is "
We will leave the easter bunny out and have resurection basket for the whole family, maybe a little candy ,a book , and a family video(this year Charlotts web)I plan to dye eggs and have egg hunts . Maybe next year I will do resurection eggs (found in Bible book stores,Each egg has a symbolic item to tell the resurection story. I think the little is too small and I think it will be better understood next year.
My Farm http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&ext=1&groupid=140532&ck=
My Recipes http://recipecircus.com/recipes/garliclady/]
My blog http://www.epicourier.com/Garliclady/ |
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daffodil dreamer
True Blue Farmgirl
805 Posts
Jayne
Hamilton
Victoria
Australia
805 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 5:35:55 PM
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I know exactly what you mean - and it is very hard when you are trying to reduce commercialism in your childrens' lives and others don't respect that. I always feel like the 'poor relation' at Christmas with my children, as I try to give them less and make more of the meaning of the celebration, but then grandparents load them up with stuff and my little gestures are lost amongst all the 'stuff'.
I am reading a lot about Waldorf and they have lots of wonderful ideas for celebrating, not just Easter and Christmas, but the change of seasons and other lesser known festivals. There is heaps on the web. This is one I like on Festivals and the Rhythms of the Year.
http://www.wonderhs.com/wonderhomeschool/index.html
But if you search you will find lots more.
Hope this is of some help,
Best wishes,
Jayne |
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 05:31:23 AM
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I too have struggled with the balance of holidays. I think as my girls get older it's easier. I still give them Easter baskets - but this year we really put the focus on Christ. We're doing the Resurrection Eggs and the girls are begging to do them each day. We will watch Ben Hur & The Witness as a treat today.
For their baskets they will each get a movie, barrettes & other hair goodies, material for sewing and other goodies for their sewing boxes - I do keep it on the small side.
I try to do everyday celebrations with my girls. To keep our faith in the fore front - not just on holidays. Then when a holiday comes up they know the importance of it. We make a big deal of it. It does get easier as they get older. When they were smaller it was all about the gifts - not the meaning. We celebrate the first hyacinth, the first day of spring - everyday is special. Now when Easter comes - they understand why it is such a big day.
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2007 : 06:04:20 AM
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We do the whole easter bunny thing, because hey, we are Pagan, but the silliness of all the candy is a little out of hand only around the grandparents because for some reason or another they cannot abide that kids dont need candy on a daily basis. We do basket with fun things in them....some handmade, others natural but store bought. Grace is learning money now, so Rob made her money out of homemade paper. Its pretty cool. I think I might see about a couple-a bunnies from Catherine, but for the most part we like to keep it simple and remember why WE celebrate the season-SPRINGTIME for us...the turning of the Wheel...
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage:
http://gaiasrose.etsy.com
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
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Parenting & Farm Kids: meaningful celebrations |
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meaningful celebrations
